Long-term commitment to food vouchers for vulnerable families

Kent families with children who receive free school meals will once again be provided with food vouchers by Kent County Council to help them, not only over the forthcoming half-term break but over Christmas, the Spring half-term and next Easter.

This October half-term, one £10 food voucher, which can be used in supermarkets and some local shops, will be provided to each eligible child or young person by their school or college.

In addition, arrangements are in hand for the distribution if a £50 energy voucher to families with children receiving free school meals. The method of distribution is to be agreed and schools will be notified of the precise details as soon as possible.

KCC is funding the vouchers from part of its allocation from the Government’s Household Support Fund.

Shellina Prendergast, KCC’s Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: “I am pleased that, once again, we are able to assist some of Kent’s most vulnerable families in this way, as they have been during school holidays over the past two years.

“For many families, school holidays can be especially difficult with the extra cost of more meals and paying for more activities for their children while they are at home.

“We are also grateful to our schools whose staff undertake the administration and distribution of the vouchers.”

Mrs Prendergast urged all parents and carers who feel their children may be entitled to receive benefits-related Free School Meals, but who have not yet applied for them, to visit the website – www.kent.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals – as soon as possible so that no one misses out on this scheme.

Schools are issuing the vouchers to eligible pupils from this week, as they have done for previous holidays, so parents and carers should direct any enquiries to their child’s school.